huntsman. wrote: ↑26 Aug 2020, 16:44
Hi Dolly.
Chrisbarlow is correct but I'm at a loss as to why you wouldn't want that wonderful honey your bees worked so hard to get for you.
............................
...............................
Follow this up by giving them a 2.5 kg. block of fondant at the start of January.
They didn't get it for us, they got it for themselves.
Because not all are interested in taking off all the honey. I always leave a super for the bees and may still feed to make sure they have enough for winter.
I am late taking off the honey this year but tomorrow's plan is to remove all but one super and get the Apivar on (I said I was late). That super will be nadired and by next March it will be completely empty, No need to feed fondant - but I'll heft to make sure.
The problem nowadays is that warm wet winters mean the bees keep flying and producing brood, don't cluster as they did, and consume stores. A national brood box no longer holds enough and allow for winter bee production - so they run out.
I am on 14x12's by the way and in the tropical South (well Cambridgeshire) which just makes the problem worse.